Aqua Velva edition

Even more than his 61st homer of the 1961 season, what sticks in my head about Roger Maris* is his pronouncement, in a television ad, that went something like this: “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: You can’t beat the LPGA for unique golf news and people.”

It’s the setup line here that interests me more – useful then and useful now when you’ve said something before and want to say it again, to make your point, without having to apologize, again, for redundancy.

The point is: If you’re not watching women’s golf at its
highest level, you’re missing at least half the picture of the modern game.

Herewith the Kordas: Sisters, professional golfers, and winners in the news this week for what they did last year and last week and what they’re doing — and not — this week.

The elder, Jessica, a few days from 26, is listed as the defending champion at this week’s Honda LPGA Thailand. The five-time LPGA winner won’t get to defend her title because she’s out with a wrist injury …

… leaving the family honor to little sister Nelly, 20, who claimed her second LPGA victory just last week at the Australian Open.

It’s apparently enough, with these two, to stir the Grey Goatee Research goons into action (loosely speaking) long enough to offer up (without being asked) some facts about the Kordas.

They’re Americans, with deep family roots behind the Iron Curtain***.

They have sports in their genes. Their father, Petr Korda, a Czech, won a tennis major — the Australian Open in 1998. Mother Regina Rajchrtová was a pro tennis player, too, and represented Czechoslovakia in the 1988 Olympics.

Their kid brother, Sebastian, 18, won the 2018 Australian Open tennis title in the boys’ division.

They’re engaging, attractive and still getting better.

What does it all mean? I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again …

*Two-time MVP baseball player who last reported to Fort
Lauderdale for Yankees’ spring training 53 years ago this month, which only a
(reformed) Yankee fan of a certain age would know.